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Othello Feminist Criticism

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In the play, “Othello”, the character of Desdemona portrays a modern view of feminist criticism. Most of her words and actions support this view. In the tragedy, Desdemona is one of the most tragic characters.

The character of Desdemona is the wife of Othello, daughter of Brabantio, and Emilia’s mistress. In the beginning of the play, we learn that Othello and Desdemona secretly got married. She is pure, humble, determined, and calm. Desdemona is capable of defending herself and her marriage with Othello. In Act I, scene III, Brabantio accuses Othello of using black magic to marry her, and when Desdemona arrives, she defends the marriage to her father.

Feminist criticism focuses on relationships between genders and examines a text based on the patterns of thought, behavior, values, enfranchisement, and power in relations between and within the sexes. Throughout the play, Othello mostly shows his love for Desdemona and at the end, hate, but she never stops loving him and sticks up for herself. When you compare their relationship …show more content…

Well, not only does she stand up for herself and her marriage, she is a warrior in her own way. “Desdemona “may "seem passive" once her "self-confidence is checked" by Othello 's rejection of her "handkerchief" in the third scene of act 3” and “"it would be kinder to describe her as bewildered, out of her depth, not as defeated" (43). However, I would disagree that she "suppresses [her impulsiveness] and thus denies her own nature, almost becoming another person in the last two acts" (48), because that view of her "impulsiveness" does not do justice to Desdemona 's charitable courage in sacrificing her reputation or "honor" as a self-proclaimed suicide in order to save Othello.” (Holmer)

In the play, “Othello”, the character of Desdemona portrays a modern view of feminist criticism, her story showed a woman who fought for herself and her marriage but it wasn’t enough to save her

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